Obama takes notes from Heston: “They’re going to pry it out of my hands”

Late last year, there was a buzz going on after the election regarding President-elect Barack Obama’s BlackBerry. If you haven’t already noticed, the 87xx series device was attached to his hip nearly every second of the campaign. After the election, people began wondering how he’d feel about giving it up. Like George W. Bush before him, email is a service that has to be given up by the Commander In Chief due to security reasons. Can you imagine going four years or more without writing a personal email? Still, security trumps all else, especially for our nation, and the President-elect is being forced to give up his beloved ‘Berry.

“I’m still clinging to my BlackBerry,” Mr. Obama said Wednesday. “They’re going to pry it out of my hands.”

In the event that emails, text messages and phone records need to be subpoenaed for court, privacy and security could be compromised. We also know that persistent and fervent hackers could probably hack into Obama’s BlackBerry if they really tried. It’s not likely Obama will be able to keep his BlackBerry, but he’s going to fight it regardless of the results. We’re torn on this one: We’d like for our new President to be able to keep his favorite gadget, but in this case it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Perhaps he should take note of that statement, and realize that gun-owners feel the same exact way.

andy

Do you have any clue what the security details and infrastructure of the Blackberry data system is? RIM can’t even get in. Its end to end secure with data cut into chunks and encrypted with a large key. Jeez

KH

Obama can still call his friends and meet them in person. Its not like he’s being cut off from his entire personal life.

I wouldn’t let him keep that ancient ass handset either! Obama is an embarrassment to the Blackberry community!

VDubb

He definitely needs to upgrade to the 8900 Curve!

– VDubb

Dingoberry

Hack into a BlackBerry? Last I checked, a BlackBerry device has never been hacked and probably never will. The government even uses BlackBerry devices (remember that press member from the Mexican press who tried to steal all the BlackBerry devices and the Secret Service got him?).

They aren’t worried about security, they are worried about the President’s privacy. Everything the president does is under a watchful eye. Now, if he were to have a personal device, who knows who he could be communicating with without them knowing? It’s a privacy issue, not a security one. However, the two are intertwined depending on WHO he could be communicating with.

StevenGlansburg

How is he going to keep track of the one trillion dollars he is trying to spend and thus add to the national debt without a Blackberry? I would think you need a Blackberry or some kind of PDA in order to set us even farther back than Paulson and Bush already have…

http://www.monsterandfriends.com drunknbass

@andy,

Data that comes in chunks and encrypted? Wow noway! …… Welcome to the 21st century I hope you enjoy your stay 

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

Macbook N Cheese

what a crock!!! who gives a F*** if he has it, he is the president, he should be like F you all and keep it

Jeremiah

Wow way to not be ignorant.

I love my Blackberry, but he shouldn’t be allowed to keep it. He’s still only president[-elect]–he’s not above the law or tradition.

curtis

Um HELLO. Do any of these writers have any idea of how much of the US Government’s alphabet soup (agencies) use blackberries?

Like others have said, the SS that got the gord who tried to steal blackberries, the security track record of RIM’s infrastructure and enterprise offerings…

get over it people. POTUS has a blackberry. He will upgrade when he wants to.

KLS

Everyone in govt has a blackberry. Everyone. How is it that just Obama presents a risk? I don’t understand all the fuss.

It is a widely used tool, it is highly secure, and I suspect that the president is LESS likely than hundreds of others close to him to send or receive sensitive materials. Dude just wants to BBM a few close friends….

jeff

Regardless of use, I am sure the rules regarding him having such a device are new. Look at the state of technology when our current leader (ugh) got into office. I don’t know if Bush could even figure out how to re-send is service books anyway. Technology presents tools, this device is one of them. Make the geniuses figure out a way to ensure security. He ois the leader of the free world. Let him carry a bb.

Queen4111

I guess it’s snail mail for Pres Obama.

http://www.k5live.com likeabite

He should keep the shit because no one would break into it…otherwise the government wouldn’t use it…they just don’t want him preoccupied, then there’s the privacy issues.

Radar_One

First of all the Heston quote is “not from my COLD DEAD hand” not
“They’re going to pry it out of my hands.”

SECOND He’s not POTUS YET

THIRD… the reason that POTUS isn’t allowed a BB is Freedom of information act, ALL his correspondance needs to be paper or SAVED email…something that can be archived and reprinted…not saved to a cell phone then deleted!
THERE NEEDS TO BE A TRANSPARANCY IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!

Mr. Hi-Definition

I feel bad for him. I know it must be hard to give up his crackberry. I just got my Bold and I’m loving it.

He definitely needs an upgrade asap though. We are in the 9000 series now Obama… Lol

WirelessGeek

I agree that there is a line between security and connectivity. Knowing a bit about government BlackBerry security, the “rules” are at least 8 years old because GW didn’t even like e-mail on a laptop, so he had no interest in pursuing changes to them. The new President will probably go through withdrawl until his advisors (legal and communications and technology) draft new regulations that enable him to use it, and still ensure freedom of information and security. The BlackBerry has as many security protocals as a laptop if not more, so it’s just drafting rules that satisfy everyone, nothing technical will need to change.

Of course the 5 second password timeout will really suck along with the 3,240 character password (it will be a bluetooth smart card in reality), but if he loses that battle, he can always use a laptop . . . OQO FTW!

dot

Well,

President Bush actually loves email and used it widely in his life before taking the oath of office.

There are many things that require verbal or written approval from the President before they can be enacted on. His subordinates don’t have that restriction.

Galvatron

not an apple laptop thogh you can hack thos thisngs in 2 minutes lol

http://seriousmobile.blogspot.com Donny

andy, YES RIM CAN get into the records. Remember if on BIS or BES all messaging STILL goes through servers at RIM in Waterloo, Ontario – which is just 117KM away from where I live in Toronto. RIM for many USA gov’s have pulled records for national security. YOu don’t THINK RIM would bite their biggest business customer whom intially got them to profits & still commands 30% of their quarterly Revenue do you?! I have 5 personal friends supporting corporations at RIM. I myself own a few certifications. However Obama seems to be on a BIS (personal email in this story) than on Government BES which he SHOULD be. Nobody YET has cracked BlackBerry security; NOBODY. BIS would be easier but with AES on BES with tight policy’s (no 10 pw wipe, try 3; at least), the office shouldn’t worry.

backbeat

@Radar_One: Where were your demands for transparency 8 very long years ago?

Marc D

I don’t think the issue is with the “Blackberry” specifically. I think that the POTUS cannot have ANY communication devices. All communications have to be routed through the secret service or the whitehouse. If he had a cell phone all one would need is his number to call THE PRESIDENT. Imagine the POTUS’ cell phone ringing during a state of the union address.

I personally would love to see a president using modern technology and the 87XX is the tank equivalent of all the blackberry’s.

Then again, I am Canadian so this is all rather amusing to me.

jazzyl

15. I guess it’s snail mail for Pres Obama. by Queen4111 on 01-08-2009 at 8:47 pm

(LOL)remember anthrax? Created through my cut and paste via BlackBerry!